Overview
- Official figures show 7.39 million treatments were on the elective list at the end of September, covering 6.24 million patients and down slightly from August.
- The number waiting more than a year fell to 180,329, with 1,489 people still waiting over 18 months and a government goal to cut 52‑week waits below 1% by March 2026.
- NHS England reported record A&E attendances and ambulance incidents for October, with 12‑hour decision‑to‑admit waits rising to 54,314 and 74.1% seen within four hours.
- Cancer pathways deteriorated in September, with 73.9% receiving a diagnosis or ruling within 28 days and 67.9% starting treatment within 62 days, both below targets.
- Flu vaccinations reached 14.4 million doses this autumn, slightly ahead of last year, as thousands of resident doctors prepare a five‑day strike from 7am Friday and ministers warn of winter strain.